Which Sabres do you watch and say...

[Mbossy]

Very few teams have them. Packaging 3 average D-Men for a No.1?

YES. Those number 1's play twice the amount of time. Once you've got some cheap d-men in the loop, I think this is the direction it should go.

[R_Dudley]

Vanek, Miller and Rivet, thats 1 from the forwards, a goalie and 1 Dman and "thats all I need" .

 

Realistically though how many player changes can we really expect to see made? :rolleyes:

 

So allowing that.I agree with allot of nfreemans player choices

Connolly

Gaustad

Kaleta

 

Then there is a category of young players who've shown promise but not enough consistency to get into the top "really want to keep" tier, but could get there with another good year that includes some improvement and better consistency:

 

Sekera

Butler

MacArthur

Paille

 

Then there are Pommer and Roy

 

and I would hope to see about 5-6 new faces on the team; 2 on D, new backup Goalie(maybe tellquist) and 1 center, 1 forward and if 6 another FO specialist center type.

[stenbaro]

Factoring in their salaries, who do you want to be "Sabres for Life"?

 

I know two years of missing the playoffs has me pissed off, but other than Kaleta, I wouldn't be bothered if anyone else was traded in the offseason.

I dont give a crap about salaries..The Rangers Pens Redwings dont why should we?????

 

I would like to see Spacek, Rivet, on the d to stick around and as far as the forwards go You can pick any of them up at the local noco station.....I really dont even care if Miller stays or goes....

[VansTheMans]

I would have really liked to see both Briere and Drury remain Sabres the rest of their careers...but yea, that ship has set sail. Oh well.

[ThePebble19]

Kaleta.

[Eleven]

Brian Campbell. Jay McKee. Chris Drury. Oh, yeah....too late. Current Sabres who should stay here? Miller. Maybe. That's it.

Current Sabres who can leave anytime: everyone else (including Quinn, Regier, Ruff.....maybe Tommy G. too.)

 

I felt that way about McKee. But at $4M, he had to go, and I'm not sure even Saint Louis would dispute that now. But, man, did I want that guy here forever. He was a great, great defensive D-man.

[Chief Enabler]

I continue to go back and forth about Sekera. While I like him, I often think of the 'we could get something for him' mentality. This team has no #1 or #2 D-man. Sure, Lydman blocks a lot of shots, Rivet fights, yada yada... But couldn't we just as easily pack up Sekera and Tallinder or Lydman and bring in a #1 D-man? We don't have a Chara, Bouwmeester, Lidstrom. And we need one IMO. Yeah, I know Sekera's a RFA. Get some picks, or sign him cheap and trade him.

Gone. He is not playoff/championship material in the next 5 years. Gone. or should be.

[Chief Enabler]

I felt that way about McKee. But at $4M, he had to go, and I'm not sure even Saint Louis would dispute that now. But, man, did I want that guy here forever. He was a great, great defensive D-man.

In all honesty, if McKee would have stayed on his path at whatever salary his career for both parties would have worked out under the catagory of "career guy"

[billsrcursed]

Gone. He is not playoff/championship material in the next 5 years. Gone. or should be.

 

 

Can you elaborate as to what you are possibly basing this on??

[SabresFanInRochester]

Can you elaborate as to what you are possibly basing this on??

 

Seriously. Bouwmeister was not a stud his first year... he showed promise; and maybe a lot of promise. Sekera is showing promise -- as a very young player. He is more in the mold of Campbell, in my opinion, but that is a need for Buffalo. Someone that can help transition the puck out of the zone. I do agree that a dominant D-man would be great, but you still need 5 other defenders to fill the roster. Dumping Sekera just because he is not the stay-at-home defenseman is poor logic.

 

Butler struggled through a couple games out West with the forecheck. Does that mean he's a bust? Or does it mean that he is a rookie and needs some time.? He's trying to learn and figure it out. I think Sekera is a key peg in future Sabres line-ups. Give the guy some time to grow.

[nfreeman]

Seriously. Bouwmeister was not a stud his first year... he showed promise; and maybe a lot of promise. Sekera is showing promise -- as a very young player. He is more in the mold of Campbell, in my opinion, but that is a need for Buffalo. Someone that can help transition the puck out of the zone. I do agree that a dominant D-man would be great, but you still need 5 other defenders to fill the roster. Dumping Sekera just because he is not the stay-at-home defenseman is poor logic.

 

Butler struggled through a couple games out West with the forecheck. Does that mean he's a bust? Or does it mean that he is a rookie and needs some time.? He's trying to learn and figure it out. I think Sekera is a key peg in future Sabres line-ups. Give the guy some time to grow.

Good post.

[silvermike]

I'd' trade'em all, for a little more.

[IKnowPhysics]

Rob Ray and Jay McKee were Sabres stalwarts that ended up disappearing to my dismay.

 

We have no franchise-building Yzerman, no Sundin, no Patrick Roy, no (asswipe) Modano. The only home grown franchise level talents we have are Miller, Vanek, Roy, and Pominville, and potentially in the future Gerbe, Stafford, and Butler.

 

I suppose the only current player I couldn't see trading is Teppo Numminen, because nothing about that transaction would make any sense. I would favor letting the man play his heart out and then retiring with us.

[Mbossy]

Seriously. Bouwmeister was not a stud his first year... he showed promise; and maybe a lot of promise. Sekera is showing promise -- as a very young player. He is more in the mold of Campbell, in my opinion, but that is a need for Buffalo. Someone that can help transition the puck out of the zone. I do agree that a dominant D-man would be great, but you still need 5 other defenders to fill the roster. Dumping Sekera just because he is not the stay-at-home defenseman is poor logic.

 

Butler struggled through a couple games out West with the forecheck. Does that mean he's a bust? Or does it mean that he is a rookie and needs some time.? He's trying to learn and figure it out. I think Sekera is a key peg in future Sabres line-ups. Give the guy some time to grow.

I'd say Butler is more the Campbell type. He's just too worried about screwing up right now to take it up ice himself.

[SabresOnTheWarpath]

Kaleta and Butler

[carpandean]

I'd say Butler is more the Campbell type. He's just too worried about screwing up right now to take it up ice himself.

Side note: has anyone else noticed that Butler looks like he wants to be a tough guy more and more lately? Maybe Rivet is having a positive influence on him.

[LabattBlue]

Side note: has anyone else noticed that Butler looks like he wants to be a tough guy more and more lately? Maybe Rivet is having a positive influence on him.

I think just the opposite. I noticed Butler throwing more checks and being physical when he first came up and then it slowly tailed off.

[Eleven]

I'd say Butler is more the Campbell type. He's just too worried about screwing up right now to take it up ice himself.

 

Do you remember how awful Campbell was his first couple of years? Wow, was he bad.

 

Butler and Sekera: I can't say for now that I want them here for their careers, but I don't necessarily want them gone, either.

[carpandean]

I think just the opposite. I noticed Butler throwing more checks and being physical when he first came up and then it slowly tailed off.

The past few game (I haven't watched most of tonight's game yet), he's been playing physically, but I referring more to the stuff after the whistle. He's been putting on his tough-guy face and going at people more. There were a few times that he looked like he wanted to go at it with someone.

[X. Benedict]

I think just the opposite. I noticed Butler throwing more checks and being physical when he first came up and then it slowly tailed off.

 

I would have really loved to see his game in the playoffs.

I loved how Butler (except for about 5 minutes vs. Edmonton) played within himself this season....(Haijt-esque?). He kept it simple and might have an extra gear.

[X. Benedict]

Do you remember how awful Campbell was his first couple of years? Wow, was he bad.

 

Butler and Sekera: I can't say for now that I want them here for their careers, but I don't necessarily want them gone, either.

 

Campbell had some really painful stretches those years,.

[Taro T]

Factoring in their salaries, who do you want to be "Sabres for Life"?

 

I know two years of missing the playoffs has me pissed off, but other than Kaleta, I wouldn't be bothered if anyone else was traded in the offseason.

Well, I wouldn't say that there is anyone on this roster that is or should be untouchable. But it will (likely) be a sad day when Miller, Rivet, Spach, Goose, Vanek, Roy, or Sekera leave. I know there are a lot of people that feel otherwise, but personally I include Timmy in this group. Prior to the lockout Timmy just didn't get it. Since, the issue is injuries, but I really believe he can be a healthy contributor if he has a full offseason w/ no rehab projects.

 

I also realize there is almost no chance that they re-sign Spach. Doesn't mean it won't be a sad day when he signs w/ Chicago (or whoever). I didn't include Kaleta, only becaues I think he will end up w/ a career ruining injury while still a Sabre. (I expect the sad day regarding him happens prior to his leaving the team.) And I included Roy in the list because he is a very good #2 center, he simply isn't #1 material but he has done a reasonable job when thrust into that role.

 

And I nearly put Lydman on the list as he is a very adequate #4, but I can't necessarily say I want a #4 who has brain cramps to necessarily be a "Sabre for life." His partner can't be shown the bus soon enough (especially if that would allow the team to keep Spach).

 

The better question is: what player that currently doesn't wear blue and gold do you want to see in town next year? My list is very short. I want Bouwmeester and a veteran center that PROVIDES LEADERSHIP and can win faceoffs and primarily be the #3 guy but step up to #2 for short stretches. Moore does all that except the bolded portion.

[tom webster]

I would have really loved to see his game in the playoffs.

I loved how Butler (except for about 5 minutes vs. Edmonton) played within himself this season....(Haijt-esque?). He kept it simple and might have an extra gear.

 

Think you meant Calgary but I agree with you.